About this fund

Robeco Emerging Stars Equities invests in stocks in emerging countries across the world. The selection of these stocks is based on fundamental analysis. In general, emerging economies are growing faster than developed countries and have stronger balance sheets for governments, companies and households. Common risks in emerging economies are political and governance risks, that need to be monitored well. The fund selects investments based on a combination of top-down country analysis and bottom-up stock ideas. The focus is on companies with a sound business model, solid growth prospects and reasonable valuation.The fund has a concentrated portfolio.

The value of the investments may fluctuate. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.Annualized (for periods longer than one year).Cumulized (total amount of return).Performances are gross of fees and based on closing values. In reality, costs (such as management fees and other costs) are charged. These have a negative effect on the returns shown.Performances are net of fees and based on transaction prices.

Fund

Reference index

The value of the investments may fluctuate. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.Annualized (for periods longer than one year).Cumulized (total amount of return).Performances are gross of fees and based on closing values. In reality, costs (such as management fees and other costs) are charged. These have a negative effect on the returns shown.Performances are net of fees and based on transaction prices.

Market development

In August, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index dropped 3.8% in euro terms, lagging the 1% decline for developed markets. During the month, the China-US trade war aggravated with additional tariffs announced by both the US and China. Given the slower global growth outlook, global bond yields declined further, with German and Japan bond yields well in negative territory. The best emerging market was Egypt, while Mexico and Taiwan also performed relatively well. The worst market by far was Argentina, its equity market losing almost half its value in euro terms. This was triggered by a strong win for the opposition party in the preliminary elections. Following a sharp drop in the currency, the Macri government was forced to announce select capital controls and to seek debt restructuring. Next to Argentina, Turkey, Brazil and South Africa were also underperforming countries, although with much smaller numbers. Overall contagion from the Argentina crisis to other emerging markets has been moderate. Finally, with global interest rates declining, there is also room for lower rates in emerging markets, with rate cuts last month in India, Thailand, the Philippines, Peru, the UAE and Mexico.

Fund Classification

Currency policy

The fund is allowed to pursue an active currency policy to generate extra returns and can engage in currency hedging transactions.

Dividend policy

In principle, the fund does not intend to distribute dividend and so both the income earned by the fund and its overall performance are reflected in its share price.

ESG Integration policy

Robeco Emerging Stars Equities integrates ESG factors into its investment process by analyzing the impact of financially material ESG factors to a company’s competitive position and value drivers. We believe that this enhances our ability to understand existing and potential (long-term) risks and opportunities of a company. The impact of material ESG factors can be positive or negative, reflecting risks or opportunities, that ensue from a company’s ESG analysis. If ESG risks and opportunities are significant, the ESG analysis could impact a stock’s fair value and the portfolio allocation decision. In addition to ESG integration, Robeco also has an exclusion policy and conducts proxy voting and engagement activities focused on specific themes, such as climate change, aiming to improve a company’s sustainability profile.

Investment policy

Robeco Emerging Stars Equities invests globally in emerging economies. The focus is on companies which combine a sound business model and solid growth prospects with a reasonable valuation. The first step in portfolio composition is the top-down country selection, as research shows that country specific factors drive stock returns in emerging markets. The second step is in-depth fundamental analysis of companies and serves to identify stocks with the ability to outperform in the long run. Key items of our fundamental analysis are: growth prospects of sector, position of company within sector, competitive strength, financial health and strategy, corporate governance and management quality. We screen stocks with our proprietary quantitative model for attractive characteristics. On average, the fund invests in 35-50 companies and portfolio construction is independent of the index. Risk management is fully integrated in the investment process to ensure that positions meet predefined guidelines and the portfolio is diversified. The fund can protect investors from negative currency developments through active currency hedging. The fund aims to be fully invested. Robeco Emerging Stars aims to outperform the MSCI Emerging Markets Index over a full market cycle. This Sub-fund may invest in China A-shares via the QFII and/or a Stock Connect Programme which may entail additional clearing and settlement, regulatory, operational and counterparty risks.

Expectation of fund manager

Two important global factors remain global monetary policy and US-China trade policy. Global interest rates are declining, which should be positive for emerging equity markets. Trade negotiations between the US and China remain volatile and the timing of a deal is uncertain at this point. We believe that a trade deal is beneficial for both parties, but unfortunately that does not guarantee that it will be reached. Emerging markets remain attractively valued at a discount to developed markets of around 20-25%, while average GDP growth is expected to be around 4% versus 2% in developed markets.

Jaap van der Hart, Fabiana Fedeli

Jaap van der Hart, Fabiana Fedeli

Jaap van der Hart is the Lead Portfolio Manager of Robeco’s high conviction emerging markets strategy since its inception in November 2006. He has been with Robeco since 1994, starting at the Quantitative Research department and moving to the Emerging Markets Equities team in 2000. Over time, he has been responsible for the investments in South America, Eastern Europe, South Africa, Mexico, China and Taiwan. He coordinates the country allocation process and he has been the Emerging Stars fund manager since its launch in 2006. Since 2015, he is also the fund manager of the Emerging Opportunities fund. Jaap holds a Master's degree in Econometrics from Erasmus University Rotterdam. He has published several academic articles on stock selection in emerging markets. Fabiana Fedeli is Global Head of Fundamental Equities and Portfolio Manager in the Emerging Markets Equities team where she is responsible for portfolio construction and country allocation. She has a background as Portfolio Manager and Analyst on Asia and US equities in London, New York and Tokyo. Prior to her current role, Fabiana was the lead Portfolio Manager on the Asia (ex Japan) Equity fund at Pioneer Asset Management. She joined Pioneer following the sale of Occam Asset Management, where she was Partner and Fund Manager. She began her career at ING Barings as a research analyst covering Japanese equities in Tokyo. Fabiana holds a Master of Economics from Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo and a Degree in Economic and Social Sciences from Bocconi University in Milan.

Cost of this fund

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Fiscal product treatment

The fund is established in Luxembourg and is subject to the Luxembourg tax laws and regulations. The fund is not liable to pay any corporation, income, dividend or capital gains tax in Luxembourg. The fund is subject to an annual subscription tax ('tax d'abonnement') in Luxembourg, which amounts to 0.05% of the net asset value of the fund. This tax is included in the net asset value of the fund. The fund can in principle use the Luxembourg treaty network to partially recover any withholding tax on its income.

Fiscal treatment of investor

The fiscal consequences of investing in this fund depend on the investor's personal situation. For private investors in the Netherlands real interest and dividend income or capital gains received on their investments are not relevant for tax purposes. Each year investors pay income tax on the value of their net assets as at 1 January if and inasmuch as such net assets exceed the investor’s tax-free allowance. Any amount invested in the fund forms part of the investor's net assets. Private investors who are resident outside the Netherlands will not be taxed in the Netherlands on their investments in the fund. However, such investors may be taxed in their country of residence on any income from an investment in this fund based on the applicable national fiscal laws. Other fiscal rules apply to legal entities or professional investors. We advise investors to consult their financial or tax adviser about the tax consequences of an investment in this fund in their specific circumstances before deciding to invest in the fund.

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